Living 2 Eat |

Sunday – October 5

Church attendance throughout the South was somewhat obligatory as opposed as to voluntary because of the charismatic personailities embodied by preachers, ministers, reverends, bishops, pastors, brothers… all names that define leadership within Christian churches.   In the Jewish faith, their leader is called Rabbi.   An encompassing word for all religious leaders is ‘clergy’, and October is Clergy Appreciation Month.

During the month of October, I am going to encourage each of you to pay tribute to clergy each Sunday.   These unsung heroes are never properly recognized for the late nights spent in prayer, hospital visits, weddings, funerals, counseling, etc.   These folks have endured countless suggestions, ‘brilliant ideas’, and members who only serve God in an advisory capacity!   

Having graduated from a Southern Baptist school - Palm Beach Atlantic University - I know many clergy, and all are faithful servants who give of themselves tirelessly with little public recognition.   Some suggestions on how you can honor a member of the clergy:

Cook a special dinner in your home using your finest silver, china, crystal and linens.  Honor clergy and their families with a very special evening… and don’t ask 101 Bible questions at the dinner table.  Allow them to be guests, not a psychologist or marital counselors.  Have each member of your family express why they are appreciative for the clergy’s leadership;

‘Adopt’ a member of the clergy’s family and invest in that person – birthday, holidays, encouraging notes, attendance at his/her special events (graduation, athletic games, drama productions, etc.).   A happy minister is a minister who has a happy family… and often their families are overlooked, burdened and expected to live lives beyond reproach;

Compliment and encourage the church leadership each week… even when you do not agree with their every decision.   Pray for them, don’t gossip about them.   Encourage your friends to do the same and this will probably be the greatest gift you can ever give the clergy.

For those who are not involved with church but admire clergy, find a local church with a terrific outreach ministry (food bank, clothing closets, etc.) and write their leader a nice note.    Or, clean your cupboard and closets and give something in their honor.

As you can see, these suggestions are easy and can so encourage our weary leaders.   Clergy are in impossible situations as they cannot please everyone and must continually wage war with the countless factions that are always a part of any church.  

Honor clergy for their faithfulness because we surely would not want to carry the load they do.   Serving others ain’t easy, just ask Jesus Christ… he paid the ultimate price for being a faithful servant.

Good cookin’

Ben